Track-frame for track-laying tractors



M. B. MORGAN AND E. HR SAVAGE. TRACK FRAME FOR TRACK LAWWG pmcm s.

%llm MW invert (0725, M mm fzmw Pammefl Jan. 18, 192-1.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATHEW B. MORGAN, OF'CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, AND EDWIN H. SAVAGE, OF CLEVE- LANDJOHIO, ASSIGNORS TO TflE cLEvELAND TRACTOR COMPANY, OF EUCLID,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TRACK-FRAME FOB. TRACK-LAYING TRACTOBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 25, 1919. Serial No. 319,119.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that we, MATHEW B. MORGAN ment in Track-Frames for Trackaying Tractors, of which the following is a ful clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to produce,

for use as a part of such a track laying tractor as is dlsclosedin White Patent No. 1,253,319, atrack 1 frame which. shall be strong) and light, but not expensive, and shall e especially adapted for connection in the usual way with the main frame of the tractor, and shall be especially adapted to have connected with it the wheels and other parts which such track frames commonly support.

Said frame is made of pressed metal parts, constructed and combined substantially as shown in the drawing and hereinafter described and pointed out definitely in the ap ended cla ms.

n thedrawing, Fi re 1 is a lan view of a track frame whic embodies t is invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 ,is a front elevation; and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of line 4-4 on Fig. 1.

The principal parts of the frame are two complementarily bent side members .10, and a top member 20. These parts are made of sheet metal cut and bent into the shapes shown. p Each side member has as integral parts a wide vertical web 12, an inwardly bent horizontal flange 13 along the upper ed e of said web, an inwardly bent horizontal ange 14 along the lower edge thereof,--the inner edge of said lower flange being bent down thereby fermin the vertical lower edge 15 of the side mem er.

The top plate 20 has its side edges turned down to form the vertical flanges 22. The middle part of this top plate, at its rear endis cut out to leave a space toacoommodate a driving s rocket, such for example, as is shown in t e prior patent mentioned.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

At the front end of the plate a slot is cut out, and the edges of the slot are bent down to form strengthening flan es 23.

The top member is place upon the flanges 13 of the two side members, and the side flanges 22 of the top members go down outside of the side members, and are secured by rivetsor the like to the web parts 12 of the two side members. Rivets or the like are also employed to connect the top member 20 with the flanges on which it.1s supported. At the front end of the structure so produced is a U-shaped yoke 30. The two arms of'this yoke extend rearward and are riveted or otherwise secured to the webs 12 of the two side members.

The structure is still further strengthened andthe described parts thereof are held in the stated relationsto one another bybrace plates 35. There are two of'these plates employed, but any number might be. Each of these plates is located between the two side members andstands in a vertical position. At 1ts upper edge it has a bent over flange 36, whici'en the-lower surface of the top member an isriveted thereto. At each side it has a flange 3'], said flange being in eniagement'with the inner :faces of the two we 5'12, and being riveted'to said webs. Near its lower edge each brace plate is formed with horizontal flanges ,38 which engage and are riveted to the lower flanges 14 of the side members. The narrow lower .end of each of these brace plates fits bethereof. Each of these rests upon the top member over the flan e 13; and the same rivets which connect t ose top flanges with the top member may alsobe utilized to 'con- {)1ect each bearing box plate to the side memersh The upper surface of this plate is slightly bolted down as tightly as practical, after" their positions have been determined by the set screws 57 which go through the flanges 51. 'But nevertheless, the strain of the track belt on these boxes tends to pull them rearward. This movement is minimized and practically prevented by' the inclination'of the top surfaces offsaid plates, because to the extent that they; do slide backward the bolts will be tightened." 7 e Various changes maybe made in the specific embodiment ofthe-in'vention shown and described herein, provided the means stated in any of the followingclaims or the equivalents of such stated meansbe employed.

Having described our invention, we claim I V 1. A track frame for track laying tractors comprising two complementarily bent sheet metal side -members, each of which has a broad vertical web, an inwardly turned horizontal flange along its upper edgeand an inwardly turned horizontal flange along the lower edge of said web, and a sheet metal top plate having integral downturned flanges along its side edges,- said top plate being superimposed upon and secured. to the two top flanges of the two side members and the two side flanges of the top plate being disposed putside of the web of the side members and being secured thereto.

2. A track frame for tracklaying tractors comprising two complementarily bent sheet metal side members, each of which has a broad vertical web, an inwardly turned horizontal flange along its upper edge and an inwardly turned horizontal flange along the-lower edge of said web, and a vertical web which extends down from said lower flange, and a sheet metal top plate having integral downturned, flanges along its side edges said top plate being superimposed upon and secured to the two top flanges of the two side members and the two side flanges of the top plate being disposed outside of the web of the side members and being secured thereto.

8. A track frame for track laying tractors comprising two complementarily. bent sheet metal side members, each of which has a broad vertical web, an inwardly turned horizontal flange along its upper edge and an inwardly turned horizontal flange along the lower edge of, said web, and a sheet metal top plate having integral downturned flanges alon its side edges said top plate being superlmposed upon and secured to the two top flanges of the two 'side' members and the two side flanges of the top plate being disposed out side of the web of the side members and being secured thereto, and a Ushaped front yoke having its arms extended rearwardly, which arms are respectively connected to the two web portions of the two side members.

4. A track frame for track laying tractors comprising two complementarily bent sheet metal side members, each of which has a broad vertical web, an inwardly turned horizontal flange along its upper edge and an inwardly turned horizontal flange along the lower edge of said web, and a sheet metal top plate having integral downturned flanges along its side edges said top plate being superimposed upon and secured to the two top flanges of the two side members and the two side flanges of the top plate being disposed outside of the web of the side members and being secured thereto, and a U-shaped front yoke having its arms extended rearwardly which arms are respectively connected to the two web portions of the two side members, spacing plates fitted between said side members each spacing plate having side flanges which are secured re"- spectively against the inner faces of the webs of the side members, and a horizontal top flange which is fixed to the under side of the top plate. and horizontal flanges'near its loweq edge which respectively rest upon and are secured to horizontal flanges of the side nieinbers.

A track frame for track laying tractors comprising two complementarily bent sheet metal side members, each of which has a broad vertical web, an inwardly turned horizontal flange along its upper edge and an inwardly turned horizontal flange along the lower edge of said web, and a vertical web which extends down'from said lower flange, and 'a sheet metal top plate having integral downturned flanges along its side edges said top plate being superimposed upon and secured to the two top flanges of the two side members and the two side flanges of the top plate being disposed outof said spacing plates which lie between the lower vertical webs of the side members, side flanges which are fixed to saidlower vertical webs.

G. A track frame for track laying tractors comprising two complementarily bent sheet metal side members, each of which has a broad vertical web, an inwardly turned horizontal flange along its upper edge and an inwardly turned horizontal flange along the lower edge of said web, a sheet metal top plate having integral downturned flanges along its side edges said top, plate being superimposed upon and secured to the two comprising two complementarily bent sheet metal side members, each of which has a broad vertical web, an inwardly turned horizontal flange along its upper edge and an inwardly turned horizontal. flange along the lower edge of said web, and a sheet metal top plate having integral downturned flanges along its side edges said top plate being superimposed upon and secured to thetwo top flanges of the two side members and the two side flanges of the top plate being disposed outside of the web of the side members and being secured thereto, two bearing block plates which are secured to the top of the frame structure near the front end thereof and are respectively located over the top flanges of the two side members,said bearing block plates having inclined top surfaces and upturned flanges at their rear ends, and said bearing block plates, the top plate of the frame and the top flanges of the side members being formed with longitudinal slots, bearing boxes which rest upon said bearing box plates, bolts which go through the bearing boxes and through said longitudinal slots and adjustment screws supported in the upturned rear ends of said bearing box plates.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

MATHE" B. MORGAN. EDWIN H. SAVAGE. 

